Local Briefs - INDIANA

February 24, 2008|STAFF REPORTS

LAPORTEPolice believe two men shot out windows LaPorte police have arrested two 19-year-old Rolling Prairie men they believe are responsible for shooting out windows in nearly 70 vehicles and four businesses. Both are expected to be formally charged Monday in connection with the vandalism spree that occurred overnight Wednesday to early Thursday. Damages has been estimated at about $10,000, and police believe the perpetrators used a pellet or a BB gun. SOUTH BENDFire on Bertrand St. causes heavy damage A house fire that caused heavy damage Friday night remains under investigation by the South Bend Fire Department. Firefighters were dispatched about 7:40 p.m. to 2409 E. Bertrand St., for a fire that started in the dining room of the wood-frame house. Fire crews found heavy fire and smoke on the west side of the two-story house and brought the blaze under control in just over half an hour. No one was home at the time, and there were no injuries reported. Fire officials report there also was water and other damage to an adjacent apartment. SOUTH BENDPolice arrest two for home invasion South Bend police arrested two men Friday night who are suspects in a Feb. 14 home invasion in the 1900 block of West Ewing Avenue. Police said a 42-year-old man, who could be charged with possession of stolen property, and a 26-year-old man, who could be charged with robbery, were taken into custody. The two men are suspects in the Feb. 14 incident in which several people walked through the Ewing Avenue residence and took two laptop computers as one person restrained an 18-year-old in the house. No details were available regarding how police apprehended the suspects. SOUTH BENDPolice: Man injured after wallet stolen A 43-year-old South Bend man was robbed Friday night in the 700 block of West Indiana Avenue, according to a police report. The victim told police he had just left a bar in the 800 block of West Indiana when two men approached him about 8:15 p.m. and asked for money. As the man got out his wallet, the robbers grabbed it and ran off. The victim chased the robbers for about two blocks and caught one, but was struck by the other and injured during a scuffle with the men, who eventually got away. The victim was treated at Memorial Hospital for facial cuts and for scrapes on the back of his head, police said.